Lee Daniels(I)
- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Lee Daniels gave his parents an early Christmas present when he entered
the world on December 24, 1959; unfortunately, the Philadelphia native
was to have a difficult relationship with his police officer father who
later reacted violently to his son's sexuality. Despite the brutality
of his childhood, Lee completed high school and attended Lindenwood University in St.Charles, Missouri for two years.
Daniels's career took an interesting and profitable turn. He moved to Los Angeles and started a nursing agency of his own. He later sold the agency for a
substantial sum then began his career in entertainment, first as a
casting director and later as a manager. By his mid-twenties, he was
working with Prince on
Purple Rain (1984) and
Under the Cherry Moon (1986).
Despite being involved in film production, Lee continued to manage
talent and grew a roster of clients that included several Academy Award
nominees and winners.
He created his own production company, Lee Daniels Entertainment, and
its first film was the acclaimed
Monster's Ball (2001), which
starred Billy Bob Thornton, the late
Heath Ledger and
Halle Berry, who went on to win the Best
Actress Oscar. Monster's Ball was a critical and financial success and
as its producer, Daniels became a force to be reckoned with.
In 2004, Lee used skills honed as a filmmaker to produce a series of
public service announcements aimed at inspiring young people of color
to vote. He worked with former President,
Bill Clinton and was able to enlist
actor/rap artist LL Cool J and actor/singer
Alicia Keys. Lee's next production,
The Woodsman (2004), was another
edgy tale about a pedophile trying to reform after being released from
prison and starred Kevin Bacon,
Kyra Sedgwick and
Yasiin Bey. While
The Woodsman (2004) was not the
critical success that
Monster's Ball (2001) was, it
attracted a great deal of critical attention and earned its star,
Kevin Bacon, raves for his
performance.
Daniels made his directorial debut with his next project,
Shadowboxer (2005), a provocative
drama with an intriguing cast that included
Helen Mirren,
Cuba Gooding Jr.,
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and
Stephen Dorff.
Shadowboxer (2005) was also the first
time Lee worked with Mo'Nique; unfortunately,
despite an interesting cast,
Shadowboxer (2005) received mixed
reviews and failed at the box office. Lee's next production,
Tennessee (2008) was not a critical or
financial success but allowed Lee to help singer
'Mariah
Carey' gain acting credentials after
the failure of her first film,
Glitter (2001).
Daniels hit the mother lode with his next effort,
Precious (2009),
which he directed and produced. The film won at the Sundance Film
Festival and has garnered every imaginable accolade under the sun. The
film stars newcomer Gabourey Sidibe in
the title role as a Harlem teen who is the victim of unimaginable abuse
from her father, mother and society. The film allowed Daniels to
re-team with both Mariah Carey and
Mo'Nique, who has been a revelation to both
critics and audiences as Precious's abusive mother. Daniels has said
that he felt compelled to bring this story of child abuse to the screen
to help heal the scars from his relationship with his abusive father.
the world on December 24, 1959; unfortunately, the Philadelphia native
was to have a difficult relationship with his police officer father who
later reacted violently to his son's sexuality. Despite the brutality
of his childhood, Lee completed high school and attended Lindenwood University in St.Charles, Missouri for two years.
Daniels's career took an interesting and profitable turn. He moved to Los Angeles and started a nursing agency of his own. He later sold the agency for a
substantial sum then began his career in entertainment, first as a
casting director and later as a manager. By his mid-twenties, he was
working with Prince on
Purple Rain (1984) and
Under the Cherry Moon (1986).
Despite being involved in film production, Lee continued to manage
talent and grew a roster of clients that included several Academy Award
nominees and winners.
He created his own production company, Lee Daniels Entertainment, and
its first film was the acclaimed
Monster's Ball (2001), which
starred Billy Bob Thornton, the late
Heath Ledger and
Halle Berry, who went on to win the Best
Actress Oscar. Monster's Ball was a critical and financial success and
as its producer, Daniels became a force to be reckoned with.
In 2004, Lee used skills honed as a filmmaker to produce a series of
public service announcements aimed at inspiring young people of color
to vote. He worked with former President,
Bill Clinton and was able to enlist
actor/rap artist LL Cool J and actor/singer
Alicia Keys. Lee's next production,
The Woodsman (2004), was another
edgy tale about a pedophile trying to reform after being released from
prison and starred Kevin Bacon,
Kyra Sedgwick and
Yasiin Bey. While
The Woodsman (2004) was not the
critical success that
Monster's Ball (2001) was, it
attracted a great deal of critical attention and earned its star,
Kevin Bacon, raves for his
performance.
Daniels made his directorial debut with his next project,
Shadowboxer (2005), a provocative
drama with an intriguing cast that included
Helen Mirren,
Cuba Gooding Jr.,
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and
Stephen Dorff.
Shadowboxer (2005) was also the first
time Lee worked with Mo'Nique; unfortunately,
despite an interesting cast,
Shadowboxer (2005) received mixed
reviews and failed at the box office. Lee's next production,
Tennessee (2008) was not a critical or
financial success but allowed Lee to help singer
'Mariah
Carey' gain acting credentials after
the failure of her first film,
Glitter (2001).
Daniels hit the mother lode with his next effort,
Precious (2009),
which he directed and produced. The film won at the Sundance Film
Festival and has garnered every imaginable accolade under the sun. The
film stars newcomer Gabourey Sidibe in
the title role as a Harlem teen who is the victim of unimaginable abuse
from her father, mother and society. The film allowed Daniels to
re-team with both Mariah Carey and
Mo'Nique, who has been a revelation to both
critics and audiences as Precious's abusive mother. Daniels has said
that he felt compelled to bring this story of child abuse to the screen
to help heal the scars from his relationship with his abusive father.